Each day I’ll post a game-by-game breakdown with predictions (I’ll start tomorrow afternoon with the Division I first round). But first, here’s a quick overview of Division I and Division II.
Since I’m restricted in the amount of hours I can work in a certain time period, I will be off until Wednesday. But we will have someone at the CHSHL Finals at the Ice Hutch on Sunday, and then covering the first round Monday (probably North-SHI) and Tuesday (the Somers/NS game). I’m taking a long weekend and I’m not sure how much access I’ll have to the blog, but I’ll check in as often as possible.
Division I
Favorite: Mamaroneck is riding a 19-game unbeaten streak, including wins over Suffern and defending state champion Massena on the road. It has the best depth and is strong in every area — offense, defense and goaltending.
Top challengers: Suffern and Clarkstown North are both ranked in the top 5 in the state. The Rams have the top two scorers in the section in Matt Willows and Jake Shuman, plus all-state goalie Chris McIndoe. The Mounties are the only team to beat North and have allowed just 31 goals in 23 games. White Plains is also tough — the Tigers are the only team that beat both Mamaroneck and Suffern, and finished a strong third in League 1.
Best early game: League champions collide when Clarkstown North hosts League 4 champion Sleepy Hollow/Irvington. Despite being in League 4, the Legends defeated the Rams last year in the first round, and this year’s team tied White Plains at Ebersole. Willows also needs just four points to break the state record for points in a season (134).
Sleeper: No. 7 Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville is a scoring machine. The Eagles have scored at least five goals in 15 of their 17 games this season.
Upset special: No. 12 Lakeland/Panas over No. 5 Rye Town/Harrison. The Rebels have won 14 of their last 15 games, while the Titans haven’t won in over a month, albeit against a much tougher schedule.
Frozen Four: Mamaroneck, Suffern, Mahopac and Clarkstown North
Championship: Mamaroneck over Suffern
Division II
Favorite: Rye has won two straight sectional titles and has beaten its main small-school rival, Pelham, four straight times. After a slow start, the Garnets have won 8 of 10 and feature three solid forward lines, a strong defense and excellent goaltending.
Top challenger: Marc Flory, League 1’s leading goal scorer, top passer Andrew Emerson and tough-nosed center Mike Mamone form the division’s top forward line for Pelham, who beat Suffern and White Plains this year, something Rye couldn’t do.
Best early game: Brewster and Yorktown went to double-overtime last year in the quarterfinals, with the ‘Huskers winning by a goal for the third straight time. The first meeting this season was a tie before Brewster finally got a win in the rematch.
Sleeper: Pawling has League 3’s top goal scorer in Matt Burdick and perhaps the league’s top goaltender in Mike DeLaVergne. That’s a nice combination to have in the playoffs.
Upset special: No. 6 Ossining over No. 3 John Jay. Ossining, the League 3 champion, is undefeated against Division II — its only losses were to Mamaroneck and Sleepy Hollow/Irvington. John Jay has been toughened by a League 1 schedule, but it also lost to Pawling.
Frozen Four: Rye, Pelham, Brewster, Ossining
Championship: Pelham over Rye
Schedule
Division I first round (Monday)
First round (Monday)
No. 4 Mahopac vs. No. 13 Carmel, 8 p.m. at Brewster
No. 5 Rye Town/Harrison vs. Lakeland/Panas, 7:30 p.m. at Playland
No. 6 Clarkstown North vs. Sleepy Hollow/Irvington, 4:30 p.m. at Palisades
No. 7 Eastchester/Tuckahoe/Bronxville vs. No. 10 New Rochelle, 8 p.m. at Ice Hutch
No. 8 North Rockland vs. No. 9 Scarsdale, 7:40 p.m. at Sport-O
Quarterfinals (Wednesday)
No. 1 Mamaroneck vs. North Rockland/Scarsdale winner, 7 p.m. at Hommocks
No. 2 Suffern vs. ETB/New Rochelle winner, 7 p.m. at Sport-O or Hommocks
No. 3 White Plains vs. Clarkstown North/SHI winner, 6 p.m. at Brewster
Mahopac/Carmel winner vs. RTH/Lakeland-Panas winner, TBA
Semifinals (Friday)
1/8/9 vs. 4/5/12/13 at higher seed
2/3/7/10 vs. 3/6/11 at higher seed
Final: Sunday, 4 p.m. at Tate Rink, West Point
Division II first round (Tuesday)
Top six seeds (Rye, Pelham, John Jay, Brewster, Yorktown, Ossining) get byes
No. 7 Somers/North Salem vs No. 10 Pearl River, 8:15 p.m. at Brewster
No. 8 Pawling vs. No. 9 Byram Hills, 7:30 p.m. at Trinity-Pawling
Second Round (Thursday)
No. 1 Rye vs. Pawling/Byram Hills winner, 8 p.m. at Playland
No. 2 Pelham vs. SNS/Pearl River winner, 7 p.m. at Ice Hutch
No. 3 John Jay vs. No. 6 Ossining, 8:45 p.m. at Brewster
No. 4 Brewster vs. No. 5 Yorktown, 6:45 p.m. at Brewster
Semifinals (Saturday)
1/8/9 vs. 4/5
2/3/7/10 vs. 3/6
Final: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. at Tate Rink, West Point